Data Retrieval Method for Location Based Services on a Wireless Device

• US 20080085724A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Cormier, Jean-Philippe, Plestid, Trevor
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

An embodiment provides a method for communicating location-based information between an application server and a mobile device in response to an information query, the mobile device and the application server communicating via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: initially transmitting a subset of the location-based information to the mobile device in response to the information query; transmitting further subsets of the location-based information as required; and pre-caching a predefined amount of location-based information at the device in response to a pre-cache trigger notification, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when it is determined that the mobile device may lose contact with the communication network.

Claims

1. A method for communicating location-based information between an application server and a mobile device in response to an information query, the mobile device and the application server communicating via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

a. initially receiving a subset of the location-based information at the mobile device in response to the information query;

b. receiving further subsets of the location-based information as required; and

c. pre-caching a predefined amount of location-based information at the device in response to a pre-cache trigger notification, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when it is determined that the mobile device may lose contact with the communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a plurality of predefined positions, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when the mobile device reaches one of the predefined positions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-cache trigger notification is generated by the mobile device when the mobile device determines that it has reached one of the predefined positions.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-cache trigger notification is generated by the application server when the application server determines that the mobile device has reached one of the predefined positions.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of predefined positions are virtual waypoints for identifying geographic locations having acceptable coverage parameters for transmitting information to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the virtual waypoints are located near a critical waypoint which identify geographic locations having unacceptable coverage parameters transmitting information to the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-cached location-based information is checked before submitting a further query to the application server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-cached location-based information is checked after it is determined that a further query cannot successfully be communicated to the application server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring a signal strength between the mobile device and the communication network, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when the signal strength falls below a predefined threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal strength is monitored on the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined amount of location-based information pre-cached at the device comprises location information for a predefined geographic region.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined amount of location-based information pre-cached at the device comprises location information corresponding to a predefined maximum file size.

13. A mobile device for providing a user with access to a location-based application, the mobile device comprising:

a. a communication subsystem configured to;

transmit an information query to an application server via a communication network;

receive an initial a subset of the location-based information in response to the information query;

receive further subsets of the location-based information as required; and

b. memory configured to pre-cache a predefined amount of location-based information at the device in response to a pre-cache trigger notification, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when it is determined that the mobile device may lose contact with the communication network.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 further comprising a positioning device.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 wherein the positioning device is a GPS receiver.

16. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a mobile device in communication with an application server via a communication network, causes the mobile device to implement the steps of:

a. transmitting a query for location-based information to the application server;

b. initially receiving a subset of the location-based information in response to the information query;

c. requesting further subsets of the location-based information as required; and

d. pre-caching a predefined amount of location-based information in response to a pre-cache trigger notification, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when it is determined that the mobile device may lose contact with the communication network.

17. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an application server in communication with a mobile device via a communication network, causes the application server to implement the steps of:

a. receiving a query for location-based information from the mobile device;

b. initially transmitting a subset of the location-based information in response to the information query;

c. transmitting further subsets of the location-based information as required; and

d. transmitting a predefined amount of location-based information to be pre-cached on the mobile device in response to a pre-cache trigger notification, the pre-cache trigger notification being generated when it is determined that the mobile device may lose contact with the communication network.

18. A method for communicating location-based information between an application server and a mobile device in response to an information query, the mobile device and the application server communicating via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

a. initially transmitting critical location-based information and a subset of supplemental location-based information to the mobile device in response to the information query; and

b. transmitting further subsets of the supplemental location-based information as required.